Page 7 of By the Book

Settling in, Poppy opens a bottle and fills the flutes for the three of us before taking a swig straight from the green glass.

“What’s it like being the only girl in the room when Tripp Forester looks at you?” she asks deviously as she brings the bottle back down from her lips.

“He doesn’t look at me like that,” I mutter, feeling heat creep across my face. “He’s just a nice guy. And we’re friendlier than most because of Wes.”

“Most guys don’t even notice their friend’s sister,” Stevie points out.

Desperate to make the butterflies dissipate, I think of a way to change the subject. Then I remember seeing a certain guest at the party tonight. I turn to Poppy, feigning innocence. “Have you talked to Hayden tonight?”

“I have no reason to talk to that overgrown child,” she rolls her eyes.

Wren and I exchange a look as Stevie asks, “How’d the meeting with Fitzy go today?”

“Good, I think. My argument is solid. But Hayden’s meeting was after mine so I couldn’t get a read on how Fitzy thought he did.”

“Do you ever think about what you would do other than opening a bakery?” I ask, all heads swiveling to me in surprise.

“Not really, this is my dream,” Poppy replies simply. Her confidence sparks a hint of jealousy in me. Why can’t I be so sure of my path?

“Do you think I should have followed through with New York?” I blurt out.

Wren’s watching me closely, a question forming in her eyes. She’s putting together the timing of my question. “Wes’s travels are giving you doubts again,” she comments.

“Something like that,” I murmur.

“It’s okay to make a change when your original plan isn’t what you want anymore,” Stevie says softly. “And that’s all you did.”

“And Fitzy practically begged you to take the first ever revitalization gift,” Wren adds. “That’s such a cool thing to be proud of.”

The revitalization gift she’s referring to is seed money. Recently, our mayor started a fund that he pulls from annually to help revitalize commerce in town. He gifts it to anyone he thinks is making an important contribution to Foxport.

“That’s true,” I concede, watching two figures approaching in the dark.

Tucking her blonde hair away from her face, Stevie leans forward and squints towards them. Her expression brightens with realization, making it clear who is approaching. It must be Beckett, her closest friend outside of us three, who is currently in town from Boston to celebrate my brother’s return. And it’s a safe bet that his older brother—the Hayden we were just discussing—is the other figure.

“Of freaking course,” Poppy mutters, taking another swig from the bottle as the brothers approach.

Hayden arches an eyebrow at her, fire in his blue eyes. “Classy as ever, Pop. I saw you practically throwing yourself at the bartender for those bottles.”

“Bite me.”

“And so charming too. Tell me, does this little attitude have anything to do with you feeling worried I’ll win the bid?”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Baywatch,” Poppy replies, throwing back the champagne bottle and finishing it off.

“Howard mentioned seeing you all head out here. I hope this is okay?” Beckett asks nervously, looking between his brother and our fiery friend.

“It’s definitely fine,” Stevie assures him, shooting a warning look in Poppy’s direction.

“Ivy, he also asked us to send you back to the roast,” Hayden adds apologetically.

I stand and straighten my skirt. More than likely, there’s someone from my father’s law firm I’m to meet. Beckett and Hayden part, giving me space to head back down the path. If I’m lucky, Wes and Tripp will be there to carry the conversation.

Chapter 4

Ivy

Istep out of the garden hedges and onto the lawn. String lights glow above the mingling crowd, and I follow them to the group standing on the patio. As I cross the yard, I find my father with one of his firm’s partners and two new associates I have yet to meet. I put on my polite smile and come to stop at the edge of their gathering. Before I fully join them, I notice Wes and Tripp are only a step away and it loosens something in my chest.

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